Loading machine



March 18, 1952 A. LEE

LOADING MACHINE VENTOE ARTHUR LEE ATT v mmN Filed April 10, 1944 March18, 1952 A. L. LEE

LOADING MACHINE 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 10, 1944 //\/\/E/V7'O/-'ARTHUR L. LEE, /44. m M

March 18, A. L. LEE 1 LOADING MACHINE Filed April 10, 1944 15Sheets-Sheet 4 REDUCER SPEED REDUCER /Nl/ENT OR ARTHUR L. LEE,

HTT Y March 18, 1952 A. L. LEE

LOADING MACHINE 15 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 10, 1944 VE/VTOE Y ARTHURL. LEE,

March 18, 1952 A. L. LEE

LOADING MACHINE 15 Sheets-Shept 7 Filed April 10, 1944 /NVEN7'OI-'ARTHUR LLEE,

March 18, 1952 A. L. LEE

LOADING MACHINE 15 Sheets- Sheet 8 Filed April 10, 1944 VENTO/Q IIAETHLJE L. LEE,

ATT Y March 18, 1952 A. L. LEE

LOADING MACHINE l5 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed April 10, 1944 /Nl/ENTO/E?.'ARTHUR L4 [755, BY flg 7 HTTY March 18, 1952 A. LEE

LOADING MACHINE l5 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed April 10, 1944 VENTOE AETHUIQL. LEE,

fi'rTY March 18, 1952 A. L. LEE

LOADING MACHINE l5 SheebsSheet 1 1 Filed April 10, 1944 1 MY E 5 MW MP EW W w M h n% $m m @M M J Y 5 mm r M W I. I 1 551 m Q h 1%, .3 mm a @Q mmMarch 18, 1952 A. L. LEE

LOADING MACHINE l5 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed April 10, 1944 SCI March 18,1952 A. LEE

LOADING MACHINE Filed April 10, 1944 15 Sheets-Sheet 13 v mNm March 18,1952 E 2,589,827

LOADING MACHINE Filed April 10, 1944 15 Sheets-Sheet l4 VEN TOE BYMM' 1Elly. 33' ARTHUR L. LEE,

March 18, 1952 A. L. LEE

LOADING MACHINE l5 Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed April 10, 1944 //v1/E/-/7.'oARTHUR L. LEE, BY 77- 7 Patented Mar. 18, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE LOADING MACHINE Arthur L. Lee, Columbus, Ohio, assignor, by mesneassignments, to The; Jeffrey Manufacturing Company, a corporation ofOhio Application April 10, 1944, Serial No. 530,361

15 Claims.

This invention relates to a loading machine and to certainsub-combinations of elements found a in such machine many of which whilespecifically designed for a loading machine are in certain broad aspectsapplicable to other types of de- An object of the invention is toprovide an improved loading machine capable of efficient and high rateloading of coal particularly from a mine room into a room conveyor.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved selfcontained power-operated selfloading type of loading machine. I

A more specific object of the invention-is'to provide a loading machineemploying a telescoping conveyor having an endless conveyor mechanismand provided with a gathering head which may be extended and forced intoa pile of loose or semi-compact coal which coal is gathered by the headand delivered to the'conveyor which discharges it into a receivingconveyor at a fixed position.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved frontalattack type of self-loading machine adapted to swing about a fixed pivotg point adjacent its discharge end in a substantially horizontal plane.

A further object of the invention is to provide a self-contained loadingmachine having both traction and steering wheels, the machine being,

provided with means to lift the steering wheels wheelsrelative to saidmain frame.

provides for swinging of the traction wheels about the upright axis andwhich also preferably further provides for vertical adjustment of said Afurther object ofithe invention is to provide a device of theabove-mentioned type in which traction wheels are provided. to move thedevice longitudinally or, in other words, in which the wheels travel inparallel paths and also in which the wheels are adjustable preferablyalternately about upright'axes so that the wheels are sub-- andvertically adjustable wheel stantially in tandem though their axes arealong the arc of a circle and capable of swinging the machine aboutan-upright pivotal axis preferably located adjacent the discharge (andof the loader.

A further and more specific object of my invention is to provideimproved linkage means for controlling the traction wheels andlockingthem to move in either parallel or tandem relation.

A further objectof the invention is to provide an improved relation ofparts including a pivotal and motor driving mechanism therefor; T

Another object of the invention is to provide a loader including ahydraulic system in which there are hydraulic motors for operatingtraction wheels, the system providing'for reverse operation of thetraction wheels in parallel orjin and to swing the traction wheels sothat the en- 1 tire machine may be swung about an upright pivot joint bysaid traction means.

A further object of the invention is to provide 7 a-Z-self-loadingmachine of low overall height including a conveyor which extends betweenthe. traction and steering wheels and has an overall height not inexcess of that of one of said wheels. A further object of the inventionis to provide loading apparatus including an endless conveyor andself-loading means in which the device isthe overall height of theloader does notexceed the outside diameter of one of said tires orwheels.

IT A further object of the invention is to provide an improved mountingbetween the traction wheels and the main frame which preferably also Ina more specific tandem relation.

In certain broader aspects of the invention an object of theinvention'is to provide a hydraulic system capable of operating a pairof hydraulic motors together in a like manner or more specifically inthe same direction and also iri'an unlike manner or more specifically inreverse directionvand also preferably to be able to reverse' thedirection of operation of said motors under both conditions. I I. v

A furtherfobjec't r the invention is to provide an improved controlvalve having control passageways and valve'members adapted for'use in asystem to'c'arry' out the function in the first preceding object.

Another object of the-invention is to provide a mining machine with ahydraulic system-including related control and characteristiccontrolling valves the characteristic'being. controlled being in thespecific instance the-fluid pressure which is delivered to the hydraulicmotors, the arrangement providing for control first of the connection ofthe motors to theghydraulic systern and thereafter a progressivevariation-of the characteristic of-the fluid-or specifically thepressure. I

'aspect'of the invention a this preferably in a progressive manneras theoperating lever is adjusted.

A further object of the invention isto provide a loader with improvedsteering wheel mechanism which may be adjusted vertically with respectto the loader main frame. I

Still another object of the invention is to provide improved means forconnecting the discharge end of the loader. preferably to the roomconveyor; sothat the loader may swingabouttan upright .axis;;theconnection preferably being an improved :ball and-socket type device.

I Another object of the invention is toprovide acompactarrangement ofparts for driving the severalelementsof a-loaderincluding an electric*motorga .clutch, and control means therefor, xas 'wellias a'hydraulicpump driven by the motor for supplying :hydraulic fluid under pressurewhich may baa-utilized by the hydraulic system used on the'motor tocarry out the various functions.

1;.Stillranother object of the invention isito pro- 'videran'improvedloader having'a particular arrangement .in which there is a telescopingtype :conveyor including'a continuous chain conveyor mechanism which isdriven by a motor, .chains falso-beingemployed with other-mechanism tois *driveiigathering: mechanism :at the head end 401? said: conveyor.

Numerous ;otherand imore: specific as well as ibroaderiaspects .of the.invention will be'evident fromthe detailed: description which'follows:and from .certain ;broad.as 'well'as detailed claims forming a part ofthis specification.

In-"the accompanying drawings, Fig.1 is a;.plan view of the loadingmachine "comprising my invention;

2 is-a side elevational view of the machine with certain-parts removed;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevational view taken on .the.line..3-.3 of Fig.1 looking in the direction o'fithe arrows with certain parts brokenaway-in :the interest of clarity;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevational view taken generally-on the:line44 ofFig. 1 looking in the direction "of the arrows, certain parts beingbroken-away toshow .others in detail;

,FigJ-B is a plan view-of-the, locking mechanism shown in Fig. 4 withthe conveyor trough and chain mechanismzremoved and with other partsFig. -9 is a schematic piping diagram of the "'hydraulic'system of themachine;

f-Fig. '10 is a sectional elevational view taken on the'lin'e I'B-Ifl ofFig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows with the machine'brokenofi in parts to reduce the length of the view; Fig. "11 is-asectional'view taken on the' line H-ll of Fig. 1 lookingin the directionof the arrows, the device being broken in two to shorten the length ofthe view;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged elevational view showing one of the front wheelsand associated mechanism;

Fig..l3 is a plan view of the mechanism shown .in Fig. 12 with theconveyor trough, conveyor mechanism and wheel cover illustrated in Fig.1 removed;

Fig. 14 is a sectional elevational view taken on'the" line I l-I4 ofFig. 13, looking in the 'idirec'tion of the :arrows;

'Fig. 1'5- is .an enlarged side elevational view or the' discharge endof the conveyor;

Fig.'16 is a partial plan view, showing a part in section and taken onthe line 16-46 of Fig.

1'5-looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 1'7 is an enlarged detailedsectional elevational viewtak'enon theline ll--.i'i of Eigfilfi looking in the directionof -the. arrows; v sFig. 18. is Ia sectionalview taken-.on-theline l8l8 of Fig. 1. lookingin the directionotthe Fig. 19 is a sectional View taken on the line 1849 of :Fig. 1 looking. in the direction of the arrows; v

. Fig. 20 is a sectional view taken on the line 2D20 of Fig. llookingin-the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 21 is a sectional view taken on the line 21-2! of Fig. 1 looking inthe direction of the arrows;

Fig-22 is a sectional detail taken on the-line 22--22 of Fig-21, lookinginthe direction ofthe :arrOWS;

Fig, 23 is a combination plan and sectional .view takeiron the line 23-23 ofFig. 24., -.looking .inthe direction of the arrows;

Fig-24 is a sectional-view, taken on the line Z l-Z- l of Fig. 3 lookingin the directionof the is an elevational view of the hydraulic valveassembly with the operatin mechanismhf one of the valve operating leversshown-insection;

Fig. 26 is a sectional elevational view of the bank of valves of Fig. 25with the pressure control valve shown in elevation;

Fig. 27 is a sectional view taken on theline ll-21 of Fig. 25 showingthe pressure valve-in section and also showing in section a portionaofoneof the operating levers;

.Fig. 28 is a side elevational-view of-.one-of:the operating leversofthe valve assembliesof Figs. .25 and 27. I

Fig. is an elevational view of one-0f the parts or members of the valveassemblyof Figs. 25 and 27;

- Fig. 30 is a sectional view taken on the line 30-49 of Fig. 27 lookingin the direction-of the arrows;

Fig. "31 is a sectional view taken onthe:line 31 -3! of Fig. 2'7 lookinginthe directionof the "arrows Fig. 32 is a side elevational view withparts in section showing the last or left hand valveof-the valveassembly of Figs. 25-27 which has adifierent function from theothervalves; 1

"Fig. is a diagrammatic plan view showing amine room and the loader ofmyinvention therein in various positions;

34 is a view'similar to Fig. 33 but show-in the leader in its extendedpositionafter loading out a'diagonal break-through in'amineipillarj;

Fig. 35 is another view similar to Fig. 34 except that the pillarbreak-through has parallel walls and is more removed from the room face.In addition a different pivotal mounting for the loader is provided sothat it discharges over the side of the conveyor and coal i guidedthereto by a chute; and

. Fig. 36 is an elevational View of the apparatus of Fig. 35 showingparticularly the jacks and pivotal support mechanism for the loadertogether with the guiding chute and associated room conveyor.

Before describin in detail the loader of my invention it may be statedthat the loader is designed particularly to be capable of operation invery low coal as for example in coal seams having a height from 24 to 36inches, though the machine may be used in a coal seam of any greaterheight. The machine is fundamentally a frontal attack type of machine,that is, the principal loading takes place by rectilinear forward feedmove-.

ment of the gathering mechanism though some loading may very well takeplace while swinging the machine about a fixed pivotal axis which isprovided adjacent its rear or discharge end and preferably by meansincluding one or more roof jacks as hereinafter described more com-'pletely.

Another important characteristic of the loader is that the dischargeposition is maintained fixed while the gathering mechanism operates overa very wide range due to the fact that it may be swung in a horizontalplane as well as extended forwardly. It is, of course, evident thatwhile the discharge position is fixed for any arrangement, it positionmay be moved about in a mine room should circumstances warrant it,though in general it is possible to lay the room conveyor associatedwith the loader generally along the center line of the mine room and notmove it until a shooting of coal along the mine face has been entirelyremoved.

The device is completely self-contained and may be transported under itsown power by an operator who may ride on it, thus providing for itsquick and ready removal from one mine room to another or to differentlocations in a single mine room. Furthermore, the device is fedunderpower both to feed the gathering head rectilinearly and to swing itlaterally, rectilinear apart "members including bottom plates, bars,

etc., which are welded or otherwise connected to Saidside plates 4| and42. For example, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 19 of the drawings there5 is 'a 'U- shaped reinforcing trough section or plate '43 which extendsbetween the side plates 4| and 42 the upright sides of which overlap thesaidside :plate 4| and 42 and are welded thereto,

' thus substantially reinforcing said side plates 4| and-42 and saidmain frame 48 adjacent this portion thereof.

" Also in Figs'lO and 11 there'is illustrated af cross plate 44 which isconnected to the bottoms of the side plates 4| and 42 as by welding.

In Fig. 18 there is seen a U-shaped bottom bracket '45 which is weldedto the bottom portion of side' plates 4| and 42, thus interconnectingthem.

Also extending transversely between said side plates 4| and 42 andrigidly attached thereto and forming a part of the main frame 45 is atrough-shaped conveyor pan 46 (see Figs. 4 and 10 for example). The pan46 has a substantially horizontal bottom and sloping side walls whichoverlap the side plates 4| and 42 and are rigidly attached thereto, thusalso forming a part of the main frame 40. The pan 46 also forms part ofthe elongated trough of a horizontally extending conveyor 41. It may bestated that to a large extent the main frame of the conveyor 4'! and themain frame 40 of the entire loader are one and the same thing.

Telescoping within the main frame 44 and also the frame of the conveyor41 is a longitudinally extending adjustable frame designated generallyby the reference character 48 (see particularly Figs. 10 and 11) whichis adapted to be adjusted with respect to the main frame 40 so as toincrease appreciably the overall or effective length of the conveyor 4?.The frame 48 is formed by a bottom longitudinally extending box work orcolumn 49 (see Figs. 3, 4, 10, 14 and 18) which is slidably containedbetween the bottom portions of the side plates 4| and 42 of the mainframe 49 and is supported upon longitudinally extending main frameplates 59, 50 (see Fig. 4 for example) which are welded to the bottomsof the side plates 4| and 42 and are supported thereby and by thepreviously mentioned cross plate or bar 43, cross plate 44, bracket 45,etc.

Cooperating with the side plates 4| and 42 to provide guides for theupper portion of the elongated box or column 49 are angle members 5|, 5|(see Fig. 4). At its forward end the elongated box or column frame 49 isrigidly attached to a head fra'me52 of a gathering head 53, thestructure of which will be described more completely hereinafter. Theadjustable frame 48 also includes as a rigidly connected part thereof atrough or pan 54 (see Figs. 4 and 10 for example).

Referring particularly to Fig. 10 of the drawings, it'will be seen thatthe forward end of the trough 54 is rigidly attached to the head frame52 and the connecting bracket (see Fig. 11) aids in effecting thisconnection, it being rigidly attached to the head frame 52 and pinned toa member forming a part of the trough orpan -54. The trough or pan 54rests in and is adapted to slide longitudinally and rectilinearly overthe conveyor pan 46 of the main frame 49. It is thus obvious that as thegathering head 53 is extended forwardly from the main frame 40, thetelescoping sections of the conveyor 41, including the framememberswhich are integral with the main frame 49'and the longitudinallyadjustable frame 48 including the box or column 49, head frame 52 andtrough or pan 54, are slidable relative to each other, thus effectivelyincreasing or decreasing the overall length of the telescoping conveyor4?. This provides for maintaining the position of discharge of theconveyor 47 ad acent a fixed point while the gathering head 53 movesrectilinearly inwardly or outwardly togather coal. Swinging movement ofthe con- -veyor in a horizontal plane both while gathering coalandpreparatory thereto by frontal. at.-

said chains 51 sprockets H on a head shaft 58 (see Figs. .10 and anewtackdsalso provided, as hereinafter set forth.

In addition to the two telescoping frames 40 and '48 the conveyor 41includes endless traveling conveyor mechanism 56 which cooperates withthe conveyor pans 46 and 54 to provide a scraper type conveyor, saidconveyor mechanism =56 including a pair of laterally spaced endlessdraft chains 51, which are interconnected by -a plurality oftransversely extending flights -58. Thechains 5'! are so reeved aboutthe head, foot and intermediate sprockets as to provide-for :the. freeextension of the adjustable frame 48 with respect-to the main frame 49.To this end extend over laterally spaced mounted in spaced journalbearings on'the 'headframe 52. Following the chains 51 in their normalcourse "of travel over said sprockets H on shaft 59 they extendrearwardly successively over pans 54 and to spaced sprockets -on a anddischarge it into a receiving conveyor 63 brother receptacle (see Figs.15, 34 and :36) .The

subsequent run of the chains 51 extends forwardlyfrom the shaft 66 overa'supportingplate 64 (see Fig-l0). Said plate 64 extends between and iswelded to longitudinally extending inwardly positioned angleshaped framemembers .55, 66 (see Figs. .14, 18 and21) which members 86. are weldedto side plates 44 and 42 and form part of the main frame Ml.Transversely extend- :ing frame pipes (see Fig. .10) welded to the sideplates 4'! and 42 help support said plate'M and are preferably welded toit. This forward run of the chains 51 leads them to spaced sprockets6'1, 61 on a driveshaftBB (seeFigs.

:10 and 19) whichshaft 68 is journaled in spaced anti-friction bearingscarried by the side :plates and 42 ofthe main frame-4G, as'clearlyillustrated in detail in Fig. 19 of the drawings.

From the sprockets El, 61, the run of'the'chains 5! again extendsrearwardly to a pair of spaced sprockets carried by a shaft '62 which isjournaled in appropriate bearings carried by longitudinally adjustabletensioning'slide blocks one-of whichis seen at 69 in Fig. 11 of thedrawings. This-shaft 62 is thus carried by a rearward por- :tion of thebox or column 49 forming a part .of .the longitudinally extensibleframe48.

From the sprockets carried by shaft 62 the chains 51 extend in theirlowermost run over the bottom wall of the column or box '49 to the headshaft 59. It is thus to be noted that the head shaft 5-!) and the shaft62 are journaled on the extensible frame 38 and consequently moverectilinearly backwardly and forwardly-with it. The shafts 60 and 68 arejournaled on the main frame 41! and consequently are stationary relativethereto.

.flIn view of the path of travel of the chains'ifil and :53 it isobvious that their lengths need not be'adiusted while permittingfreerectilinearextension of the effective length of the conveyor M :theshaft Ell-as the conveyor is extended'will com- -'pensate for the .equalforward movement of' the F drawings.

shaft 59 with respect to the shaft 60. .As shall be pointed outhereinafter, the conveyor .chains 51 not only convey material deliveredat theiront of the conveyor 41 and discharge it over the tail shaft 60but they also act to drive a pair ofgathering conveyors Hi, 18 mountedon the gathering head 53.

The gathering head 53 includes the previously mentioned head frame 52,an integral and important part of which includes a forwardly anddownwardly sloping gathering plate 12 (seeFigs. 1, 10 and 20) which toan appreciable extent and except for obvious differences, or differenceshereinafter mentioned, follows the structure of the gathering headdisclosed in the patent toiE. P. Corbin, No. 2,341,977, granted February15,1944. The Corbin patent also discloses the structure of the twogathering conveyors it, 10 as Wellastheir relation with the associatedgathering platen.

Briefly stated it may be pointed out that each gathering-conveyor i8includes an endless conveyor chain 13 which is mounted upon a station-.ary guide andcarries a plurality of flights 14 which in their travelextend forwardly beyond the forward tip of the gathering plate 12 sothat they can effectively dig into and tear down coal in .a semi-compactmass and can readily gather loose coal, both of which are frequentlyfound in 'a mine room after the undercut coal has been shot. .The twogathering conveyors Hi, T9 are, of course, specific illustrattions of apreferred form of gathering mechanism, other forms of which maybeemployed within the scope of my invention in some of its broaderaspects. It is obvious "that the gathering conveyor 1% will operate togather coal either while the gatheringhead T2 is fed rectilinearly orlaterally by a swinging movement; Furthermore, the gathered material isobviously carried by the flights 74 up the incline of the plate T2 anddischarged into the path of the endless conveyor mechanism 56 by beingdischarged onto the forward anddownwardly curved portion of the troughor pan 5 5, which curved portion is clearly illustrated in Fig. '10 ofthe The material is then carried rearwardly by the chain and flightconveyor mechanism 56 and discharged over the'tail sha'ft'fifl intothereceiving conveyor 63.

Attention is now directed particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 19 and 21 to 24,inclusive, and to the drive mechanism by which the endless chains 51 andthe two gathering conveyors it are driven. As

best seen'in Fig. 1 of the drawings there is an electric motor 15 whichis the only electric motor onthe loader and which is the primary sourceof power for operating all of the power operated devices thereon. Saidmotor 15 is carried onan appropriate support provided at one side-of themain frame All and is rigidly attached 'to said the former of which iskeyed to and continuously drives'a hydraulic pump 89, said pump beingsupported'in anenclosing housing 8| which also "encloses the gears Ii-l9.

The-hydraulic pump supplies hydraulic fluid under pressure for thehydraulic "system which-is described in detail hereinafter. The gear [9drives a shaft 82 which is supported in appropriate bearing means 83carriedbya wall off-the housing 8 I.

Said shaft 82 is also providedwith a beveled pinion 84 which meshes withand drives :a beveLringJ earJ85jwhioh is riveted .oreotherassess? wisefirmly attached to the housing 86 of a disc type friction clutch 81 (seeFig. 21). The clutch 81 is per se of standard design though theoperating mechanism therefor has been designed'particularly for theloader of my invention and it shall be described in some detail. Theclutch housing 86 is, of course, continuously rotating with the electricmotor by virtue of the gear train above described and the clutch isengaged or disengaged so as to drive a rotor 88 by vir'tue of adisengaging ring 89 which is subject to manual control; Rotor 88 iskeyed to a hollow'drive shaft 99 which extends toward the main frame 49and at the end carries a drive sprocket 9I. To control the engagementand disengagement of the clutch 81 by controlling the ring 89, there isa slidable cylindrical head 92 in the hollow shaft 99 provided with a.transverse slot through which an operating pin 93 extends, said pin' 93also extending through elongated slots in the shaft 99 and the sleeve ofthe rotor 88 and abutting the ring 89 so as to push it to the left, asviewed in Fig. 21, as the head 92 is urged to the left under the actionof compression coil spring 94. Coil spring 94 is contained within thehollow shaft 99 and at the left hand end abuts a washer which in turnabuts the head 92 and at the right hand end abuts an abutment member 95which is welded or otherwise attached to the right hand end" of shaft99. Thus the spring 94 normally urges the clutch '81 into engagingposition.

Extending into the hollow shaft 99 and through the coil' spring 94 is anoperating rod 96which is longitudinally shiftable but non-rotary andsince the head 92 rotates with the shaft 99 and clutch rotor 88 ananti-friction ball bearing connection 91 is provided between the lefthand" end of the rod 96 and said head 92. To increase its flexibilitythe rod 96 is broken in two andpivotally connected at 98 which alsoprovides for the assembly and disassembly of the parts.

At its right hand end, as viewed in Figs. 21 and 22 of the drawings, therod 96 is pivotally connected by a pin 99 to a pair of parallel rods I99which extend through and are connected to a pin I9I mounted in anoperatinghandle I92 which is pivoted by pin I93 between the spacedoperating arms of a bracket I94 mounted on the side plate M. Theoperating mechanism just described is of the self-locking, over centertype and as illustrated the handle I92 is in the clutch disengagingposition with the spring 94 under compression. By moving the handle I92downwardly it is obvious that the rod 96 will be released and the spring94 will operate to engage the clutch 81. mechanism. is provided byadjustable nuts I95 provided on the rods I99. When the shaft 99 isdriven upon the engagement of the clutch 81 it drives the sprocket 9|which in turn drives a Adjustment of the operating sprocket I96 (seeFigs. 1 and 19) by meansof a chain I 91 which meshes with the twosprockets 9| and'I96. As illustrated best in Fig. 2 offithe drawings, anidler'sprocket I98 is provided to ride on-"-'the upper run of chain I91and to take up the slack as well as maintain it in mesh with a largenum- Referring particularly to Figs. 10 and 19 of the drawings, it willbe seen that by driving the shaft 68 from the sprocket I 96 to which itis keyed the endless chains 51 of the conveyor mechextended to drive theendless conveyor mechanism 56 under the control of the clutch 81'.Furthermore, since the chains 51 also drive the shaft 59 (see Figs. 10and 29) by way of-sprockets H, a drive is also provided from the motor15 to the two gathering conveyors 19. This drive is completed from theshaft 59 by similar drive mechanism at opposite ends thereofmne of whichdrive mechanisms is shown in Fig. 20 of the drawings. This drivemechanism comprises a bevel gear I99 keyed to the end of shaft 59 whichmeshes with another bevel gear II9 keyed to an upright shaft III. Theshaft III has at its top an integrally formeddrive sprocket II2 whichdrives the endless chain 13 of the associated gathering conveyor 19. Theshaft I I I is mounted in top and bottom anti-friction bearings H3 and4' received respectively in top and bottom cups formed ina casting II5,which casting also is provided with an anti-friction bearing I I6 whichreceives and supports the shaft 59. Individual grease passageways andassociated grease fittings II1 are providedfor the bearings Il3.and H4.It is to be noted that by virtue of the single casting I I5 absolutealignment between the bevel gears I99 and I I9 is assured.

The'casting H5 is welded in place to the top plate 12 and another plateforming a part of the head frame 52. A removable access door II8'isprovided giving access to the housing for casting H5 and gears I 99 andH9 which isformed as 51 not only operate to convey material but they arealso an element in the gear train for driving the two gatheringconveyors 19 from the electric motor 15. In addition to conservingparts'and material and employing the chains 51 for a double function,this insures that the gathering conveyors 19 will always operate withthe conveyor mechanism 56. As was previously mentioned, thelongitudinally adjustable frame 49 which includes the head frame 52 asan integral part thereoffis shiftable longitudinally and rectilinearlywith respec'tto the main frame 49 of the loader and the conveyor 41.This shiftingmovement is effected inreverse directions by power operatedmechanism so that the operator may readily adjust the gathering head 53either forwardly or rearwardly during operation of the machine. 1 Themechanism which provides for this rectilinear movement is seen best byreference to Figs. 1, '2, 11 and 18 of the drawings. As best seen inFig. 1 of the drawings, there is a rotary hydraulic motor I I9 providedwith an integrally formed speed reducing mechanism which may forpractical purposes be considered as part of the motor. The output shaftof the motor I I 9 is provided with a sprocket I 29 (Fig. 1) whichdrives a larger sprocket I2I by means of a chain I22. The sprocket I2I(see Fig. 18) is keyed to a shaft I23 mounted in appropriate spacedanti-friction hearings on the side plates 4| and 42 of the main frame49; Adjacent each end, the shaft I23 is provided with a sprocket.I24rigidly attached thereto-as by welding. r

As best seen in Fig. 11 of the drawings, each sprocket I24 meshes with astrand of chain-I25 which is guided over the sprocket I24 to have meshover a large portion of the circumference thereof by forwardly andrearwardly spaced roll-

